Wildcards for Cabrera, Fourlis

29 December 2016, by hobartinternational.com.au

Australian youngsters Lizette Cabrera and recent December Showdown winner Jaimee Fourlis have received main draw singles wildcards into the Hobart International.

Cabrera earnt her wildcard after a stellar year, rising from a rank of No.1062 at the end of 2015 to her current ranking of No.217. The 19-year-old Queenslander won two ITF titles and in November scored her first top 100 win against Japan’s Kurumi Nara, a Hobart International semifinalist in 2015.

“I’m excited to take part in the Hobart International. It will be a great warm up for the Australian Open,” Cabrera said.

The 17-year-old Fourlis has made a fantastic start to the summer, winning the Australian Open 2017 Wildcard Play-off and finishing as runner-up in the 18/u Australian Championships in December. In February, she became the youngest Australian to win a women’s title in four years securing with her first ITF honour in Perth. Fourlis is currently ranked No.423.

“I’m looking forward to playing in Hobart. The last couple of weeks have been a dream come true and I am so excited for the summer of tennis ahead,” Fourlis said.

Hobart International Tournament Director Mark Handley said, “We are delighted to have Lizette and Jaimee join the main draw. We hope it will be the beginning of a very successful summer for them both.”

Cabrera and Fourlis join a strong line-up that includes defending champion Alize Cornet, and former top five stars Jelena Jankovic, Sara Errani and Lucie Safarova.

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